When I was a child I saw an episode of a show called “Magee and Me” in which a tornado tears through a town when a child’s parents aren’t home. The episode climaxes when a tree branch breaks through the window of the child’s house.
How terrifying is that?
Honestly, every time I knew that scene was coming I would hide behind my couch and clamp my hands over my ears so I wouldn’t even hear it. Yes, I watched the episode more than once. Why? I have no idea, I wasn’t exactly a brainiac as a child. Ever since that time I have not been comfortable during storms.
Okay, truth be told I get really, really scared.
This fear of harsh weather was particularly poignant in the spring because of the storms that blew through the area. I have a wife now, so I try not to be as scared around her. However, she has a job that requires her to travel and she has been out of town during the past two storms.
No wife, no having to act tough. Scardey-cat mode activated.
During one storm, I was pacing my apartment chanting, “You are fine. It is just a storm. It can’t hurt you.”
Then the power went out. Somewhere, God was laughing.
My chant then changed to, “All right, I am going to freak right out.”
My phone rang and I saw that my friend was calling. I thought, “That’s nice. He saw that there was a storm and he knows I don’t like (AKA am terrified of) harsh weather and wants to see if I’m okay.”
I picked up the phone only to hear laughter and my friend say, “Dude, there is a huge storm where you are. I hope a tree branch doesn’t break through your window.”
I hung up on him.
Word to the wise: never tell your friends what makes you scared. I probably deserve it though because I know he has a crippling fear of snakes and I always pretend to see them when I am around him and he freaks out. I now know what it is like on the other side and I am a changed man (not really, I owe him a rubber snake in his truck).
My wife called me amidst the storm and tried to tell me about her day at work. I was obviously not listening because I was in a major crisis. There was a storm outside and it was trying to get in and get me. My wonderful bride did not yell at me and tell me to quit being a pansy. She comforted me and told me to quit being a pansy. I love her.
In the end, I was able to weather the storm and come out okay. I was even able to fall asleep at 2 a.m. when my adrenaline stopped pumping and had a very good night’s sleep.
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2 comments:
its outrageous that a person would exploit your fears like that. as friends we are called to build up our fellow man not break him down at their lowest times. i am appalled and it sickens me someone would put you through that. by the way i think there is a tornado behind you.... HA just kidding did you piss your pants you little girl.
Dude, I totally remember that McGee and Me episode! Why on earth would those idiotic parents leave all their kids at home when a deadly storm was raging outside?? Dumb.
I always think of that episode when there's a big storm.
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